Brittany Murphy Poisoned? New Report Raises Questions About Cause of Death

A new lab report has raised questions about whether Brittany Murphy might have been poisoned before her 2009 deathCredit: Jemal Countess/WireImage.com

Nearly four years after Brittany Murphy's tragic death at the age of 32, new questions have been raised about the cause of her untimely passing. A lab report commissioned by Angelo Bertolotti, the Clueless actress' supposed biological father, indicates that there is evidence of heavy metals found in rat poison in samples of Murphy's hair, ABC News reports.

The lab results, which were obtained first by Examiner.com and later by ABC News, reportedly read: "Testing the hair strand sample identified as 'back of the head' we have detected ten (10) heavy metals at levels above the WHO [World Health Organization] high levels recommendation."

The report notes that heavy metals are most commonly found in rat poison and insecticides. It continues: "If we were to eliminate the possibility of a simultaneous accidental heavy metals exposure to the sample donor then the only logical explanation would be an exposure to these metals (toxins) administered by a third party perpetrator with likely criminal intent."

"I have a feeling that there was a definite murder situation here," Bertolotti told Good Morning America on Tuesday, Nov. 19. "Yeah, it's poison. Yes, yes, I know that."

Murphy's body was discovered by her husband, Simon Monjack, in December 2009. At the time, the Los Angeles Coroner's Office ruled the cause of death to be pneumonia, anemia, and prescription drug intoxication.

A spokesman for the L.A. County Coroner's Office tells Us Weekly: "We have not seen the lab results from her dad or been contacted by him. Our autopsy stands right now as is. He contacted evidently a private lab for testing and we have not been asked or presented with the test results or any supporting documentation."